Corn-harvester.



Sheet I.

2 Sheets;

Patented Mar. H, 1902.

A TTORNE Y.

. un. 695,023; l

S. 0. ANDERSON. 'CORN HARVESTER. (Application filed my 4, 1901.) (No Model.)

we wams Parras ou, numurno.. wAsNmGnw, m c.

'"No. 695,023. Patented Mar. Il, i902.

s. c. ANDERSON. y v SOHN HARVESTER.

(Applicasin ined my 4, 1901,)

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A TTO'RNEK UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL C. ANDERSON, OF XENIA, OHIO.

CORN-HARVESTER.

srncrrronrion forming part of Letters Patent No. 695,023, dated March 1 1, reos. ippieanonvneanay4,1901. sentira. 58.686. (Nom-lem To @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL C. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Xenia, in the county of Greene and State of Ohio, have invented certain vnew and useful Improvements in Corn-Harvesters,`-`of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings. Y

This invention relates to cornharvesters, and has for its object -to provide a mechanism whereby the corn may be cut and While sustained in a practically upright position be conveyed laterally from the cutter to a suitable platform, upon which it may be formed into a shock and deposited upon the ground. Y To these ends my invention consists in certain novel features, which I will now proceed to describe and will thenparticularly point zo out in the claims.

v In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of an apparatus embodying my invention in one form. Fig. 2 is aside ele'- vation. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation. ll`ig."4E is a detail sectional View taken on the line w m of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the` mechanismfor operating the cutter-bars. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail plan view of the mechanism for driving the rotary platform, and Fig. 7 is adetail-vievv of the same looking from the upper `side of 6. l l d.,

In the said drawings, 1 indicates the main frame of the machine supported upon wheels 2 and provided with the shockinglplatform, hereinafter more particularly described. 3 indicates an auxiliary frame extending laterally from the front of the main frame and having a hinged connection therewith, asindicated at 4, said auxiliary frame being supported at one end by its hinged connection with the main frame, While at its other end it is supported by a Wheel 5, which serves asy a driving-wheelfor the mechanism mounted on and supported by the auxiliary frame 3. This mechanism comprises a rotary platform 6, suitably mounted on the auxiliary frame 3, the bodyof. said platform being horizontal and preferably circular in shape. 1 The platform is provided ,at or near its margin with a flange or rib 7, extending upward therefrom .a short distance, so as to prevent the butts of the stalks from slipping ed, and from the central portion of said platform arises a conical support 8, decreasing in diameter toward its top and provided with radial wings 9, extending outward therefrom in vertical planes and forming between said wings, cone, and platform spaces 10 to receive the stalks. Motion is imparted to the platform 6 by means of a bevel-gear 11, secured on the under side of the platform and meshing with a pinion 12. This pinion is driven at a variable speed from the axle 13, on which the Wheel 5 is mounted, and I haveshown for this purpose a construction illustrated more in detail in Fig. 6 of the drawings, in which the pinion 12 is shown as mounted loosely on the end of the axle 13, said axle being provided with a sprocket-wheel 14, which drives a sprockets wheel 15 on, a countershaft 16;V This counter-shaft'is in turn provided with a sprocket- Wheell 17, which by a chain 18 drives a sprocket-Wheel 19, secured to the pinion 12 or to a sleeve on which said pinion is itself secured.V The sprocket-Wheel17 is removable, and various sizes of sprocket-Wheels may be substituted therefor. in order to regulate the speed of revolution'of the revolving platform 6.

YAt the end of the machine there is located a finger-bar 20, bent in an arc of a circle concentric With the rotary platform 6 and having located at eachr side ofthe front of said platform a group of fingers 21. In this curved finger-bar is located an oscillating or vibratingl 'cutter-bar 22, provided with two groups of cutters 23, so located as to cooperate with the fingers 21. Motion isimparted to this cutter-bar by means of a vibrating arm 24, connected at its forward end to the cutterbar and pivoted at itsrear end, as indicated i at 25, to the lower end of the shaft 26, on

which the rotary platform G is mounted.l The arm 24: is provided at its rear end with a rightangled projection or second arm 27, which is connected by means ofa link 28 with an operating-shaft 29, located Anear the front of the machine on the auxiliary frame 3. As shown, the link 28 is pivoted atits'front end to a crank 30 on the shaft 29, While its rear end is pivoted to a pin 31 on the arm or projection 27, the body of the link being provided with a knuckle-joint 32, as shown more particularly in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Rotary motion is imparted to the shaft 29 from the sprocket-wheel 14 by means of a sprocketchain 33, which passes over the sprocketwheel 14 on the axle 13 and over a sprocketwheel 34 on the shaft 29. This same sprocketchain 33 also drives the sprocket-wheel 15 on the counter shaft 1G, hereinbefore referred to.

In order to provide for stopping and starting the motion of the cutters and revolving platform, the sprocket-Wheel 14 is mounted loosely on the axle 13 and may be connected with or disconnected from said axle by means of a clutch 35, splined on said axle and controlled by a lever 36, which is connected by means of a link or rod 37 with a hand-lever 38, located within convenient reach of the operator, who stands upon the shocking-platform.

In connection with the cutters and revolving platform I employ two sets of gatheringarms, one set for each cutter. Each set is operated by means of a vertical shaft 39, supported on the auxiliary frame 3, immediately adjacent to the cooperating cutter,and driven by means of a bevel-pinion 40 on its lower end meshing with a corresponding bevel-pinion 41 on the shaft 29. In the present instance each set of gathering-arms is shown as composed of two arms, and each vertical shaft 39 is provided with oppositely-arranged cranks 42 and 43, one of the gathering-arms, as 44, being mounted on the crank 42, while the other gathering-arm 45 is mounted on the crank 43. The forward end of each gathering-arm is free, while its rear end is connected by a pivoted link 46 with an upright or standard 47 on the auxiliary frame 3. It will be observed that by reason of this construction each arm is successively extended forward and then sweeps rearward and inward over the corresponding cutter-section, serving not only to draw the cornstalks toward the cutter, but also to carry the severed stalks from the cutter onto the revolving platform, where they will be deposited between the arms or wings 9 thereof in the particular space 10 which is at that time in the rear of the cutter-section. During this operation the other arm of this particular set is beingwithdrawn and again moved forward in order to engage with the next stalk or group of stalks and carry them in the same way to the cutter and thence to the revolving platform. It will be observed that this construction of cuttersV and gathering-arms is in duplicate on each side of the front of the revolving platform, so that the machine is thereby adapted to operate upon two rows of cornv simultaneously.

In connection with the cutting and gathering arms just described I propose to employ a reel 48, the contact arms or bars 49 of which are curved, as shown, in order not only to push the corn toward the cutters and in reach of the gathering-arms,but also so as to gather the corn toward the revolving platform and the support thereon. This reel may be mounted and driven in any suitable manner, and in the present instance I have shown the reel-shaft 50 as mounted in an arm 5l, pivoted at 52 on a standard 53 and provided with an adjusting-lever 54, having the usual locking-quadrant 55, so that the reel may be raised and lowered, as desired. The reel is driven from the shaft 29 by means of a sprocket-wheel 5G on the inner end of said shaft, from which a sprocketchain 57 passes over a second sprocket-wheel 58, having its axis in line with the pivot 52 and connected with a second sprocket-wheel 59 on the same axis, which by means of a sprocket-chain 60 and sprocketwheel 6l on the reel-shaft O-imparts motion to the reel in whatever position it maybe adjusted.

The shocking-platform, which is supported on the main frame l, comprises a forward fixed portion 62, upon which the operator may stand and which may have `mounted thereon the drivers seat 63 and a rear dumping portion 64. This rear portion is composed of tilting sections 65, which are pivoted in pairs, asindicated at 6G, to longitudinallyextending shafts G7, secured to the forward section 62 and extending rearward therefrom. When these tilting sections are raised to a horizontal position, they form a continuous platform and are supported in this position by arms or fingers 68, pivoted at 69 on the under side of the fixed section 62 of the platform and connected bylinks 70 with arms 7l on a rock-shaft 72, which is adapted to be operated by a handlever 73, located within convenient reach of the driver. It will be observed that the rear ends of the arms or fingers 68 extend under the forward edges of the tilting sections 65, so as to support them in a horizontal position, these ends being capable of being drawn forward by a rearward movement of the hand-lever 73, so as to disengage them from the tilting sections and permit these latter to drop into a vertical position. The shocking-platform is surrounded by a guard or railing 74, except at that point where the auxiliary frame 3 is connected with the main frame 1. The rear portion of this frame is in the form of a gate 75, hinged at one end at 76 to one side of the railing 74, its other end being .held closed by means of a latch 77, which may be disengaged, so as to permit it to be swung open into the line of draft, and thus leave the rear of the shocking-platform unobstructed.

The apparatus is propelled by means of horses, which may be hitched to a tongue 78, connected to the front of the main frame 1, so that the horses will travel at one side of the rows of corn to be cut.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: As the machine is drawn along the reel engages with the tops of the stalks and draws them toward the vibrating arms and cutters, and the vibrating arms serve to positively present the lower portions of the stalks to the IOO IIO

cutters, by means of which they are severed. These arms, in conjunction with the reel, carry the severed stalks rearward in an upright position and deposit them on the rotating platform, Where they are held in said upright position against the cone 8 by the arms or wings 9. The revolving platform serves as a eonveyer, by means of which the upright stalks are carried laterally toward the dumping-platform, and-when they reach the proper point they are lifted by an attendant from the revolving platform and placed upon the rear or tilting section of the shockingplatform. When sufficient corn has accumulated upon the shocking-platform, it is bound into a shock, in the usual manner, with twine, the gate at the endof said platform is opened,

andthe leverr 73 is operated to permit theA tiltingsections to dropinto a vertical position,-

thusdepositing the shock-upon the ground.l The machine is then moved forward, -leaving the standing shocks upon thegroundhef tilting sections are replaced in position, and

the apparatus is ready to proceed with its operations as before. t

It will be observed that the hinged or flexible connection between the two sections of the frame of the apparatus permits it to adapt itself to the inequalities ofthe surface of the soil without interfering with the operation of,

the machine. Y

In casethe speed of the-revolvingplatform is too great, it can be regulated in the mannerhereinbefore described by making a snitablechange in thesize ofethe sprocket-wheel 17011 vthe counter-shaft 16. In case the corn accumulates on the conveying-platform more rapidly than vit isY removed, I provide at the. rearof the space betweenthe saidconveyer andthe shocking-platform two stationarycurved arms 79, in Whichvthe surplus corn is.v deposited, so as to permit the platform to con-` tinue in operationV without becoming cloggedor overloaded.

It will be observed that the shock is de` posited inl such; a position that at the nextV passageof the machine there is room for the team and themain frame of the machine to pass between lthe shocks and the standing corn. i V- 1 It is obvious that thegdetails l of constructionhereinbefore described, and shown in the drawings, may be 4modiiied `without departing from the principle ofzmyinvention, and I therefore do not wish to kbe-understood as limiting myself to the precise construction hereinbefore specified.

y Having thusfully described my invention,` what I claim as new, and desire to secure by erally therefrom, and a shocking-platforml lo.-j cated at the side of the rotary platform and istantially as described.

vlaterally therefrom, and -a shockingeplatform located at the side of the rotary platform l and comprising a dumping portion composed of tilting sections lupon which the shock is formed and froxnwhich it maybe discharged by tiltingsaid sections, substantially as' described.

3.- A corn-harvester comprising `a cutting mechanism, a rotary platform located in the rear of said cutting mechanism and adapted to convey the severed stalks rearwardly and laterally therefrom, and ashocking-platform located at the side of said rotary platform and comprising a fixed forward portion and a rear Y dumpingportion composed of tilting sections, substantially as described.4

v et. Acorn-harvester comprising a cutting mechanism, a lateral 'shocking-platform and a rotary conveying-platform located in the -rear of the cutting mechanism andat the side 'of the shocking-platform and'comprising a `:horizontal body and a tapering upright support withradial wings or arms, substantially Vas described.

. 5. In a cornharvester, the combination,

vwith a cutting mechanism,of a rotary platform located in the rear of said cutting mechanism,

a ground-wheel"operatively connected withl said rotary platform to actuate the same, and

' means for varying the speed of rotation of the ICO platform relatively to that ofthel ground` wheel, substantially as described.r` 'y f 6.In a corn-harvester,the combination,

with a rotary con veying-platform, of -two out- ,ting mechanisms locatedinlt'ront ofsaidplat form at opposite sides thereof' to operate simultaneously on two rows of corn,'an'd a shock- .fing platform located laterally relatively 1to said .rotary platform, whereby` the severedl stalks of both rows are delivered to said shocking-platformby saidfrot'ary platform, sub-` 7.1 In a cornharvester, the combination,

ywith a rotary conveying-platform of circularYV form, of a correspondingly-curvedlinger-barlocated at the front of said platform andi hav- .ing guard-fingers at each of its ends, anda'. ,cutter-barof similarly-curvedform having a x grou p of cutters at each endcoper'ating with the guard-iingers, and means for oscillating or vibratingsaid cutter-bar, substantially 'asi described;

8. In a corn-harvester, the combination,A

with a shocking-platform locatedat the side of the machine, of a rotary conveying-platform, cutting mechanisms locatedat each side' of said platform in front of .the same, gathering-arms arranged in-sets above each cut;l

ting mechanism to draw the'stalks toward the cutting mechanisms and platform, and means for actuating said gathering-arms, the rotary platform serving to convey the severed stalks rearwardly and laterally from the cutting mechanism to the shocki ng-platform substantially as described.

9. In a corn-harvester, the combination,

with a shocking-platform located at the side of the machine, of a rotary conveying-platform, a cutting mechanism located in front 0f the same, and gathering lnechanism comprising an upright shaft provided with oppositely-arranged cranks, gathering-arms pivotally mounted on said cranks, and links pivoted at one end to the rear end of said arms and at the other end to a iixed support, the

rotary platform serving to convey the sev-A portions of the stalks to move them toward the cutting mechanismvand platform, the rotary platform serving to convey the severed stalks rearwardly and laterally from the cutting mechanism to the shockingplatform, substantially as described. p

1l. In a corn-harvester, the combination, with a rotary conveying-platform and cutting mechanism located in advance of the same, of a reel having bowed or curved arms to move the upper'portions of the stalks rearward and at the saine time gather them inward toward the cutting mechanism and platform,substan tially as described.

l2. A corn-harvester comprising a cutting mechanism, a 'rotary conveyingplatform located in the rear of the cutting mechanism, a shocking-platform located at one side of said rotary conveyingplatform, and fixed curved arms located at the rear of the junction of the conveying and shocking platforms to receive the surplus stalks, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL C. ANDERSON.

Witnesses:

W. F. TRADER, A. C. ANDERSON. 

